BV golfers second in varsity meet, first in the JV meet

GENESEO — Before leaving Maple Bluff Golf Course on Tuesday, Prophetstown coach Phil Wiersema had to double-check something.

Three Rivers traveling golf trophy in hand, Wiersema approached a couple of coaches who were clearing up the scoreboard and asked if he supposed to bring the hardware back next year. The coaches answered yes.

“I just wanted to make sure,” said Wiersema, smile never leaving his face. “This has never happened to us before.”

The Prophets’ top four scores from Drew Wiersema, Jarod Smith, Tyler Rosene and Brandon Roman totaled 329 strokes for the team’s first championship in Phil Wiersema’s 12-year tenure as coach.

Bureau Valley finished second at 333, followed by Sterling Newman (349).

Bureau Valley’s Eric Ringle, who shot a 79 to place fourth, was one of only four golfers to shoot in the 70s. Teammate Tyler Kennedy earned an all-conference medal with a sixth-place 83.

Other Bureau Valley scores were Jordan Twidell (86), Dillon Mattingly (85), Kyle Bohm (106) and Alex Knisley (91).

It was a particularly surprising win for Prophetstown because the Prophets dropped a home meet to Newman by six strokes on Monday night.

“It certainly wasn’t something we expected,” Phil Wiersema said. “So to come out like this is an absolute blast.”

“I was just dying to come out here to get (Newman) back after last night,” said the Prophets Drew Wiersema, who was medalist at 73. “Our seniors came together after that and determined that we had to finish our last season better than that.”

Wiersema fought his way out of a bunker on 18 to save par. That put him at 1-over-73 and earned the senior his second Three Rivers title. His last came when he was a freshman.

“I made it harder on myself at the end there by hitting a bad shot into the sand, but otherwise I am very excited and very pleased with my round today,” Wiersema said. “It’s just fabulous to get this in my last year.”

Wiersema fended off Newman’s Matt Hageman, who finished with a 74.

Scores were up slightly as players encountered strong winds and cool temperatures for the first time this season.